Retribution for Israel’s Sin

1Israel is a luxuriant vine;
            He produces fruit for himself.
            The more his fruit,
            The more altars he made;
            The richer his land,
            The better he made the sacred pillars.

      2Their heart is faithless;
            Now they must bear their guilt.
            The LORD will break down their altars
            And destroy their sacred pillars.

      3Surely now they will say, “We have no king,
            For we do not revere the LORD.
            As for the king, what can he do for us?”

      4They speak mere words,
            With worthless oaths they make covenants;
            And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

      5The inhabitants of Samaria will fear
            For the calf of Beth-aven.
            Indeed, its people will mourn for it,
            And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it,
            Over its glory, since it has departed from it.

      6The thing itself will be carried to Assyria
            As tribute to King Jareb;
            Ephraim will be seized with shame
            And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel.

      7Samaria will be cut off with her king
            Like a stick on the surface of the water.

      8Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed;
            Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars;
            Then they will say to the mountains,
            “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

      9From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;
            There they stand!
            Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?

      10When it is My desire, I will chastise them;
            And the peoples will be gathered against them
            When they are bound for their double guilt.

      11Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh,
            But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke;
            I will harness Ephraim,
            Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

      12Sow with a view to righteousness,
            Reap in accordance with kindness;
            Break up your fallow ground,
            For it is time to seek the LORD
            Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

      13You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,
            You have eaten the fruit of lies.
            Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,

      14Therefore a tumult will arise among your people,
            And all your fortresses will be destroyed,
            As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle,
            When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.

      15Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness.
            At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off.